We know lots of people find being creative really helps their mental health. In these pages, we've used 'arts and creative therapies' to describe specific treatments provided by trained professionals who have met relevant professional standards.

What are arts and creative therapies?

Arts and creative therapies are treatments which involve using arts-based activities in a therapeutic environment, with the support of a trained professional. You don't need to have done these activities before, or have any particular skills or knowledge.

Different people will have different experiences of arts and creative therapies, but they all aim to:

give you a safe time and place with someone who won't judge you

help you make sense of things and understand yourself better

help you resolve complicated feelings, or find ways to live with them

help you communicate and express yourself, which might include feelings or experiences you find hard to put into words.

Therapy sessions can take place in a one-to-one setting or a group, and are offered in a range of settings including charities such as local Minds, day centres, hospitals and therapy centres.

It helps quiet my mind. Concentrating on the colours, lines and shapes takes me away from the noise in my head.

Watch Stuart's vlog on how he uses doodling to cope with panic attacks.

How are they regulated?

It's good practice for any therapist to be a member of a relevant professional body, as this means they have signed up to meet certain professional standards. For some types of therapists this is required.

Can they treat mental health problems?

Research suggests that arts and creative therapies may help with mental health problems, but it's difficult to be sure because many studies have included fairly small numbers of people.

More research is needed to establish which problems or conditions arts and creative therapies can treat, or if particular aspects of each type of therapy are especially important in helping with mental health problems.

Some people say they find these sorts of therapies helpful because they provide ways of addressing painful feelings and difficult experiences without talking about them – which can sometimes include experiences of trauma.